Lycoming Historical Society 

PROCEEDINGS AND 
PAPERS 

No. 4 



History of Fort Freeland 

By Hon. Frederic A. Godcharles 



RECORD OF THE SOCIETY 

1920-1922 



WILLIAMSPORT 
1922 



Gd!e''t?'i s-it, 



SEP 28^2 



Lycoming Historical Society 

PROCEEDINGS AND 
PAPERS 

No. 4 



History of Fort Freeland 

By Hon. Frederic A. Godcharles 



RECORD OF THE SOCIETY 

1920-1922 



WILLIAMSPORT 
1922 



Collected set. 



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©CI.A686014 



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Fort Freeland 

Address delivered before the Lycoming Historical Society, 
February 27th, 1920 

By HON. FREDERIC A. GODCHARLES 

On the occasion of the unveiling- of a marker on the 
site of Fort Freeland provided and erected by the 
Warrior Run Chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri- 
can Revolution, an historical address was delivered 
which elicited much attention and more surprise. For 
strange as it may seem, many descendants of the very pio- 
neers who lived in and about that blood-stained stockade, 
were on that day for the first time made acquainted with 
the story of its long struggle and final destruction in July, 
1779. I am sure there were few present who had ever 
realized that a siege had there taken place during which 
more were killed and taken prisoners than in many well- 
known battles of the Revolution, or of the Civil War — 
nearly as many indeed as our army lost altogether in battle 
in the Spanish- American War. 

The spot has just claim to be regarded as one of the 
most important, historically, in the beautiful and pic- 
turesque Valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna 
River. It was the one refuge of terrified settlers in early 
days when the Indians ravaged the Valley; it was the 
scene of an invasion by the Connecticut forces who 
claimed the northern part of the State; and it was the 
ground of a battle in the Revolution, which, so far from 
being a skirmish of little importance, was a very definite 
part of strategy of the British forces which operating 
against General Sullivan endeavored to restrict and de- 
stroy the Continental Army, and did succeed in entirely 
destroying this stockade. 

From our earliest known history, this part of the Val- 
ley had been one of the most coveted of the homes and 

(1) Copyright, 1922, by Frederic A. Godcharles. 

5 



hunting grounds of the Indians. It was occupied by the 
Andastes, a branch of the great Algonquin family. Like 
the Hurons of Canada, and the Iroquois of New York, 
the Andastes fortified their towns, and gave a limited de- 
gree of attention to agriculture; while in number and 
prowess they enjoyed a superiority over the surrounding 
tribes of the East and South. Captain John Smith, ex- 
ploring the Chesapeake Bay in 1608, first brought them 
in contact with the English, from whom they received the 
tribal designation of Susquehamiocks. After many years 
of warfare, they were finally conquered by the Iroquois 
in 1675, but not before disease, misfortune and merciless 
■warfare had almost decimated them. 

By 1725 this part of Pennsylvania was occupied by 
the Confederacy known as the Six Nations, and the great 
Shikellimy was the resident viceroy. For a quarter of a 
century his name was associated with every important 
transaction affecting the Indians of the Valley. Early 
historians establish his residence at Shamokin, now Sun- 
bury, but it is known that he lived also eight miles up 
the West Branch. One historian has endeavored to prove 
this Indian town to have been on the west bank; others, 
that it was at, or near, the mouth of Chillisquaque Creek, 
on the east bank; while still other authorities place it at 
the mouth of Limestone Run, now in the very heart of 
Milton. 

Conrad Weiser is authority for the following state- 
ment, taken from his diary : — 

"Bishop Spangenberg and his party passed over the same 
route, June 7, 1745, and after passing Chillisquaque Creek, 
and the site of the Indian town which formerly stood there, 
they next came to the place where Shikellimy formerly lived. 
but which was then deserted." 

The "place" to which they next came, noted in this 
trip, was "Warriors Camp," near the present site of Wat- 
sontown. In 1753 John, son of Shikellimy, had a hunting 
lodge at the mouth of Warrior Run, and resided near that 
place. 

French and Indian War 

The original peaceful intercourse of the trader, the 
interpreter, and the missionary with the Indians of Sha- 

6 



mokin and the adjacent region was abruptly terminated. 
The latter's dissatisfaction with treaties, and their alliance 
with the French against the settlers, was followed by the 
terrible attacks and savageries of the French and Indian 
war lasting from 1754 to 1760. One of its first conse- 
quences to the pioneers of the Valley was the massacre 
at Penns Creek, October 15, 1755^. This, and other at- 
tacks during the treacherous and almost constant warfare 
of the Indians against the settlers, caused petitions to be 
sent to the Provincial Government for fortifications, in 
which protection might be secured from the assaults of 
the savages. 

These petitions were for a long time disregarded ; but 
as one massacre followed another, the Quakers in au- 
thority were finally brought to a realization of the urgent 
necessity for this protection. Fort Augusta was there- 
fore built in 1756, and equipped with quite a formidable 
armament^. Other forts along the North and West 
Branches were also ordered to be built and manned, and 
were named as follows : Fort Jenkins, at a point midway 
between the present site of Bloomsburg and Berwick; 
Fort Wheeler, along the banks of Fishing Creek, about 
three miles from Bloomsburg ; Fort McClure, on the bank 
at Bloomsburg ; Fort Bostley, at the forks of the Chillis- 
quaque at Washingtonville ; Fort Montgomery, some- 
times erroneously called Fort Rice, at Montgomery's, in 
Paradise Valley, about five miles from Milton ; Fort Free- 
land, on the north side of Warrior Run about six miles 
north of Milton; Fort Boone, on Muddy Run, one mile 
above Milton ; Fort Swartz, on the east bank of the West 
Branch, one mile above Milton ; Fort Meinninger, on the 
opposite bank, at White Deer Mills; Fort Brady, at 
Muncy; Fort Muncy, at Halls Station; Fort Antes, oppo- 
site Jersey Shore ; and Fort Horn, between Pine and Mc- 
Elhattan. 



(1) The petition to the Governor following the massacre 
gives the number of "killed, scalped and carried away" as twenty- 
five. The settlement was at the mouth of the creek. [Ed.] 

(2) Meginness states that in 1758 "it mounted twelve to six- 
teen pieces of artillery, ranging from six to twelve pounders." 
"Otzinachson," rev. ed., p. 307. [Ed.] 



The Connecticut Invasion 

Hardly had Pennsylvania's troubles in the French 
and Indian war ceased, than the claims of the Connecticut 
settlers threatened further bloodshed. 

These Connecticut people claimed territory as far 
south as the 41st degree of latitude, which is just below 
the town of Milton. Between the 3d and 7th of July, 
1772, a large body of the Yankees had come down from 
Wyoming, and reached the West Branch where Milton 
now stands. They called the place Judea. Thereupon 
Colonel Plunkett^ summoned the Pennamites^ to arms, 
marched to Milton, and drove the invaders away. They 
retreated towards the Muncy Valley, and made another 
settlement, where the borough of Muncy is now located^. 



(1) William Plunkett, by profession a physician, served in 
the French Indian war as lieutenant and surgeon near Carlisle. 
He settled near Chillisquaque Creek on land granted in reward 
for such services, about 1772, and in the same year was appointed 
Justice. Fearing his Irish estates would be forfeited he is said 
to have remained "neutral" during the Revolution. He appears 
in records of the time as "Doctor," "Justice," and "Colonel." [Ed.] 

(2) "Pennamites" — those whose claims were based on 
grants or patents derived from the Penns. The Connecticut 
claimants were termed "Yankees." Historians recognize two or 
three "Yankee-Pennamite Wars." [Ed.] 

(3) The Battle of Judea:— "In the early part of May, 1772, 
a company of New Englanders proceeded from Wyoming down 
the Susquehanna to Fort Augusta, intending to journey thence 
up the West Branch to their townships of Charleston and Judea. 
The object of their journey becoming known to the authorities 
of the new county of Northumberland, the latter proceeded, by 
force, to prevent the New Englanders from continuing their jour- 
ney. In the melee which ensued there were several casualties 
and some taken as prisoners and detained at Fort Augusta. 

Soon as those who escaped from the Provincial forces had 
returned to Wyoming, a much larger company was immediately 
organized, and about the middle of June they set out for the 
West Branch. 

By order of the Northumberland County Court early in July, 
1772, the posse comitatus was raised and proceeding up the West 
Branch to the tract of land occupied by Marcus Huling in what 
is now the very center of Milton, dispersed the Yankees who 
were collected there. Huling was the agent of the Susquehanna 
Company on the West Branch, and for his services was given 
one quarter share of the Company's land which was on Limestone 
Run, where it empties into the river. 

That this battle actually took place, and at the time stated 
is evidenced from a court record, found in Penna. Archives, Sec- 
ond series, XVIII, 698, which is from the account of Robert King 



The Connecticut settlers had been so sure of their 
ground, that before this one Zebulon Butler^ had issued 
a proclamation, and distributed it through Northumber- 
land County, announcing that he had been appointed a 
justice by Connecticut authorities. This had been met by 
a proclamation from Governor Penn, strictly forbidding 
the people tO' pay any attention to this usurper. 

Yet it must be admitted that the Connecticut claim- 
ants were not without local support. For it seems that 
the Vincents, Freelands and other settlers from New Jer- 
sey who came to the West Branch Valley about a year 
after the "Battle of Judea" were attracted by the Con- 
necticut people and manifested sympathy towards their 
claims. They themselves had settled on their arrival in 
that part of the County included within the limits of the 
Susquehanna Company. Freeland's mill was built short- 
ly after his arrival and, as told later, his house was stock- 
aded in 1778. 

The armed clash of 1772 by no means settled the dis- 
pute; and the continued and determined efforts of the 
Connecticut claimants to enter and to settle permanently 
along the West Branch, resulting as it did in the threat 
of actual armed invasion, so terrified the earlier Penn- 
sylvanians, that a petition, numerously signed, was laid, 
December, 1773, before the Board of Council, then meet- 
ing in Philadelphia. The Council considered the petition 
of such importance that it was laid before the Assembly, 
accompanied by a message from Governor John Penn^. 

The Governor, though a Quaker, recommended that 
the invaders be repelled by force, and appealed to the 

and is in part as follows: "1772 — July 3. To myself and'horse 
five days, viz: from 3d to 7th, both days included, collecting the 
inhabitants of Northumberland County in order to apprehend a 
party from Wyoming (then Assembled at Marcus Huling's on 
the West Branch of Susquehanna River), by order of Doc. Wil- 
liam Plunket, Esq. £ 1, 17 s. 6d." (From the manuscript, not yet 
published, "History of Fort Augusta," by Frederic A. God- 
charles. The authorities are the Penna. Archives and Harvey's 
"History of Wilkes-Barre.") 

(1) Colonel Butler, whose services in the Revolution and 
whose narrow escape during the Wyoming massacre made him 
one of the best known of Pennsylvania's soldiers, died in 1795. 
[Ed.l 

(2) Col. Records, vol. X, p. 117. 



magistrates and officials of Northumberland "to be vigi- 
lant in the discharge of their duty, and to see that the in- 
truders from Wyoming no longer impose upon the Penn- 
sylvania settlers." 

On September 21, 1775, William Maclay advised the 
Provincial Council, through a letter addressed to the 
Secretary of the Governor, that the injunction placed on 
the Connecticut people was no longer binding.^ Also that 
Vincent, who had settled just above Milton, claimed to be 
a magistrate, and was preparing to bring three hundred 
colonists from Wyoming tO' the West Branch ; that cer- 
tain settlers were willing to be enlisted in Zebulon But- 
ler's regiment, and that he could not understand why 
they were so determined to possess these lands. 

In the same month it ^vas reported that an armed 
force had arrived at Freeland's Mills consisting of three 
hundred men, supposed to be part of Butler's regiment. 
Judge Plunkett at Sunbury was apprised of this, and a 
company of fifty men immediately marched from Fort 
Augusta to "meet and demand the reason of this intrusion 
and hostile appearance." 

The size of this force seems to have been exaggerated. 
But Colonel Plunkett, under orders from the Provincial 
Government, detailed a strong force of Northumberland 
militia, and marched to break up the settlements at 
Charleston and Judea (Milton). There does not seem 
to have been much armed resistance, as but one life was 
lost, and few Connecticut people wounded. After burn- 
ing the buildings and collecting what property they could 
carry away. Colonel Plunkett returned to Sunbury w^ith 
a number of prisoners. The women and children were 
sent to their friends at Wyoming. William Judd and 
Joseph Sluman, who appear to have l>een leaders, were 
sent to jail at Philadelphia. 



(1) * * * * "The Congress, at the last meeting, ordered the 
memorials respecting the Connecticut intrusion to lie on their 
table to the next meeting, on the 5th of September. In the mean- 
time their Delegates were directed to enjoin a peaceable behavior 
on their people. The Sth of September is come and past ;the in- 
junction, therefore, is no longer binding, according to their mode 
of reasoning." * * * * 

10 



Three months earHer, Fithian, in his journal written 

during his visit to the West Branch Valley, under date 

of July 14th, 1775, describing a delightful visit to the 

family of Captain William Piper, on Warrior Run, says : 

"The people here are all cordial and inveterate enemies of 
the Yankees, who are settling about in this province on the 
land in dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania. It 
is said they are intending to come down into this neighbor- 
hood and fix down upon the unsettled land, which exasperates 
the people generally." 

It is evident that these early settlers were between the 
upper and the nether millstones, the fear of the Conncti- 
cut Settlers swooping down and usurping their lands on 
the one hand^ and the constant warfare with the savas:es^ 



fei^ 



on the other. Theirs was indeed a trying experience ! 

The Revolution 

Through their alliance with the British troops after 
the outbreak of the Revolution^, Indians began to be very 
offensive in 1777, and during the latter part of that year, 
and the beginning of the next, murders became more and 
more frequent. In April and May, 1778, large parties of 
Tories and Indians infested the very borders of the set- 
tlements in this part of the Province. Life and property 
became more and more insecure. Most of the able-bodied 
men were in the Continental army, and their women and 
children were unprotected. 



(1) Mrs. Murray in her "Old Tioga Point and Early Ath- 
ens" (1908) points out that the last of the Connecticut claims to 
be settled was the "Welles-Matthewson case." That was closed 
in 1827. [Ed.] 

(2) The Indians felt that they had just grounds for revenge 
against the white men. In 1757, Indians told the Rev. David 
Brainerd that "God made two worlds, one for the white men, the 
other for the Indians; that the white people had no business to 
come into the Indian country — and that, though the white people 
made some pretense of instructing them, yet they had no design 
of doing good, but merely to put money into their own pockets." 

(3) Of the number of Indians engaged by England during 
the Revolutionary War, there were, according to Campell, 12,960 
warriors, 1,580 of whom belonged to the Six Nations, 500 were 
Delawares, 300 Shawnese, 150 Monsej's and 60 Mohicans. Of 
scalps, the Senecas alone, 400 warriors, took 1,052 in three years, 
299 being those of women and 29 infants. These were sent to the 
Governor of Canada, to be sent as a present to the King of Eng- 
land. 

11 



By June, the danger had become so great that the in- 
habitants were seized by panic. They fled to the forts 
for protection. All the inhabitants of the Valley below 
]\Iuncy Hill as far as Chillisquacjue Creek were assembled 
at Freeland's Fort, Boone's Fort and Fort Augusta. This, 
the "Great Runaway," left the country practically aban- 
doned. When it was thought possible, small bands of 
men ventured cautiously up the river, and into the woods 
to secure cattle, horses and other effects that had been 
left behind in the hasty flight for safety. They found 
small groups of Indians engaged in the work of pillage 
and destruction, and at night the sky was reddened by 
the vivid light of the burning cabins and barns. 

The urgent appeals of the distressed people to Con- 
gress were not entirely in vain. Soldiers were sent to the 
devastated county. First came Colonel Broadhead, soon 
hurried to Fort Muncy ; General Potter, who returned to 
Penn's Valley; and Colonel Thomas Hartley, who or- 
dered to the West Branch Valley, arrived in August, 
1778, and immediately took steps to offer strong resist- 
ance in the event of further attacks. When Colonel Hart- 
ley, late in the year 1 778, was ordered to another field of 
duty, his departure was a matter of sincere regret, for 
his success in fighting the Indians had done much tO' re- 
store confidence among the settlers. His withdrawal 
proved to be a disastrous move for the Valley. 

Six years before this time, in the year 1772, as noted 
before, in my comment, on the Connecticut invasion, Jacob 
Freeland, Samuel Gould, Peter Vincent and his son, and 
Timothy Williams, with their families, had cut their way 
through the woods, and settled along Warrior Run. They 
came from Essex County, New Jersey. Jacob Freeland 
brought with him the irons for a grist mill, and during 
1773 and 1774 he built a mill on Warrior Run, about 
four miles back from the river. It was stockaded, in the 
fall of 1778, by Freeland and his neighbors, and en- 
closed his large two-story house. The spring of water 
enclosed is still used. 

The first mention of this place as a fort is in a letter 
of Colonel Samuel Hunter, written from Fort Augusta, 
April 27, 1779, addressed to "His Excellency. Joseph 

12 



Reed, Esqr., President of the Supreme Executive Coun- 
cil," then sitting in Philadelphia. In this he says : — 

"Yesterday, there was another party of indians, about 
thirty or forty, kill'd and took seven of our Militia, that was 
stationed at a little Fort near Muncy Hill, call'd Fort Free- 
land; there was two or three of the inhabitants taken pris- 
oners; among the latter is James McKnight, Esqr, one of 
our Assemblymen; the same day a party of thirteen of the 
inhabitants that went to hunt their Horses, about four or five 
miles from Fort Muncy was fired upon by a large party of 
Indians, and all taken or killed Except one man. Captain 
Walker of the Continental troops, who commands at that 
post, turned out with thirty four men to the place he heard 
the fireing, and found four men kill'd and scalped, and sup- 
poses they Captured ye Remainder." 

This massacre was alsO' reported to the Council by 

William Maclay, on the same date. He says : — 

"The whole Force of the Six Nations seems to be poured 
down upon Us. How long we will be able to bear up under 
such complicated and Severe attacks, God only knows." 

In a long- letter of instructions sent by President Reed 

to Colonel Samuel Hunter, under date of June 2d, 1779, 

he says : — 

"You may always rely upon our utmost attention to every- 
thing which concerns your safety and hope you will diffuse 
a spirit of Confidence thro the inhabitants of the county of 
which they will soon see the beneficent consequences." 

With General John Sullivan placed in command of 
Continental troops sent to protect the settlers along the 
North and West Branches, and General Potter given com- 
mand of troops under him, the settlers were more com- 
fortable and their confidence strengthened. 

Lt.-Colonel Adam Hubley, of the nth Regiment of 
the Pennsylvania Line, in an official communication sent 
to President Reed, dated Sunbury, June 21st, 1779, be- 
gan with this paragraph : — 

"I take the liberty of acquainting you of my arrival at this 
post, at present every thing about this seems quiet — the 
refugees here talk of returning again to their farms. I'm in 
hopes they will be able peaceably to enjoy them." 

It seems that this peaceable occupation of their farms 
was not to be enjoyed. The Indians becoming bolder on 
account of their previous successes, pushed down the Val- 
ley, crossed Muncy Hills and on June 21st, the very date 
of Hubley's letter, surprised several men at work in a 

13 



cornfield near Fort Freeland. A son of Jacob Freeland 
and Isaac Vincent were killed, and Michael Freeland and 
Benjamin Vincent were taken prisoners. 

Under date of June 26th, 1779, Colonel Hunter wrote 
to President Reed, apologizing for not being able to af- 
ford General Sullivan more assistance in the transporta- 
tion and guarding of stores en route to Wyoming, and 
says : — 

"All the Militia I could Collect Exclusive of what was at 
Fort freeland & General Potter's, was about thirty, which I 
ordered to stay at Sunburry to Guard the Stores there, until 
the Continental troops Returned from Wyoming." 

A postscript to this letter was : — 

"I Reed a letter from Major General Sullivan inclosing an 
Extract of your letter dated ye 3d Inst." (in v/hich President 
Reed wrote of the qualifications and experience of General 
Potter in the work on the Frontiers) "to order up the Range- 
ing Company Raised for the Defence of this County to Wy- 
oming, as he finds his numbers Rather short of what he Ex- 
pected, Col. Hubley's Regiment marches Immediately which 
leaves Fort Muncy and Fort Jenkins Vacant at this Critical 
time when its out of my Power to man them the time of 
Harvest with the militia of this County." 

This proves beyond the semblance of a doubt that 
Fort Freeland was at that time considered a strong 
strategic post, for it, and Fort Boone, became the only 
places garrisoned by Continental soldiers above Fort 
Augusta on the West Branch. That the removal of the 
troops from above Fort Freeland was a mistake is made 
manifest by the letter of Colonel Hunter to Colonel Mat- 
thew Smith, written from Fort Augusta, 23d July, 1779. 
"Dear Sir, we have Really Distressing times at present in 
this County Occasioned by the late Depredations committed 
by the Savages on our Defenceless Frontiers, Immediately 
after the Evacuation of Fort Muncy, the Indians began their 
cruel murders again — the 3d Inst they killed three men, & 
took two Prisoners at Lycoming — the eighth Inst., they 
burned the Widdow Smiths Mills & killed one man, 17th 
Inst, they killd two men, and took three Prisoners from Fort 
Brady, the same day they Burned Starrets Mills & all the 
Princeable Houses in Muncy Township, the 20th Inst, they 
killed three men at Freelands Fort, and took two Prisoners, 
them sticking so close to this County after the Continental! 
troops has marched to Wyoming has intimidated the people 
so much that they are Realy on the Eve of deserting the 
County intirely as there is no Prospect of any assistance, 
that the People on the Frontiers Could get their Harvists 
put up. I thought the army marching Even to Wyoming 

14 



would Draw the attention of the Savages from us, but I 
think it never was worse than at present, and without some 
Reinforcements is sent to this County soon from some of 
our neighbouring Countys its not probable the little Forts 
we have at Freelands and Boons can stand long, suppose I 
never see the People of this County behave more spirited 
than they do at present, suppose Reduced to a few, I have 
Just arrived after being on a Scout along Muncy Hill & we 
made a great Discovery where the Savages had been along 
the Frontiers & taken off a number of Horses. We are 
scarce of ammunition Especially Lead there is none." 

Samuel Brady, a brother of Captain John Brady, and 
himself one of the bravest and most persistent of those 
who actually drove the red-skin from this Valley, was 
present at Fort Muncy when his brother, Captain John, 
was killed in ambuscade; and it was he who rushed out, 
followed by some of the garrison, and bore his brother 
into the fort. He pressed the pursuit of the Indians with 
undeviating energy, following some of them as far as 
Fort Bedford. He and his men returned afterwards to 
Fort Freeland. 

During these campaigns Brady had a close companion, 
a little Irishman named Dougherty. On one occasion 
at Fort Freeland, the main body of the garrison had 
crossed the West Branch on a scouting expedition, leav- 
ing Captain Brady and Dougherty as the only protectors 
of the women and children in the fort. A scouting party 
of British and Indian allies suddenly appeared and de- 
manded the surrender of the fort. Brady refused, and 
he and Dougherty immediately opened a defensive fire 
upon their enemies, while the women loaded their rifles. 
After a sharp fight, during which more than one of the 
invaders was stretched out on the ground, the temporarily 
absent garrison returned, crossed the river and raised the 
siege. 

But a short time before the destruction of the fort, 
Mrs. McKnight and Mrs. Durham, who was afterwards 
scalped by the Indians, started on a trip from Fort Free- 
land to Northumberland on horseback, their husbands 
making the journey afoot. Each woman carried a small 
child in her arms. Near the mouth of Warrior Run, 
they were fired upon by a party of Indians, and Mrs. Mc- 
Knight's horse suddenly wheeled about and galloped back 

IS 



to the fort. As the horse turned, her child slipped from 
her arms, but she grabbed it by the foot, and held it in 
this position until the frightened animal brought them 
safely to the stockade. 

The sagacity of these early frontiersmen revealed to 
them how grave the situation was, for Colonel Hunter's 
letter of the 23rd had not been delivered before the most 
serious trouble occurred. A letter from William Maclay, 
dated Paxton, July 26th, 1779, says: — 

"I am just returned from Sunbury — I must say a Word or 
Two of the deplorable Situation of Northumberland County; 
Stript of the whole of the Standing Army, and without a 
single Man save the Militia of the County and 14 men under 
the Command of a Capt. Kamplin, and almost every Young 
Man on the Frontier engaged in the Boat Service; they suf- 
fer more than ever, from the Savage Depredations of an 
horrid Enemy; everything above Muncy Hill is abandoned; 
a large Body of about forty Savages had penetrated as far as 
Freeland's Mills; Freeland and Sundry others have fallen 
Victims to them; They were still hovering about the Settle- 
ment when I came away; In short nothing seems wanting on 
their part But a proper degree of Spirit (and upon some oc- 
casions they have manifested enough of it) for to make one 
bold push for Sunbury and destroy the Magazine which is 
now collecting there for the Support of the Army." 

Alas, how accurately these soldiers reported the dis- 
tressed situation ! Only two days later the tinal tragedy 
occurred. Colonel McDonald with British troops and In- 
dians moved to the attack^. When the battle for posses- 
sion of the fort began, the firing could be heard at Fort 
Boone, about four miles south. Captain Hawkins Boone, 
with the garrison, consisting of a party of thirty-two as 
brave men as ever fired a gim, rushed to the relief of the 
unfortunate defenders of Fort Freeland^. 

But in a few terrible hours the most advanced haven- 
of refuge for the frontier settlers in the West Branch 
Valley was a mass of ruins : its defenders either victims 
of the tomahawk or prisoners of war : the women and 
children objects of charity in the stronger fortification 
of Fort Augaista. That the defenders of Fort Freeland 



(1) Wolfinger, in Egle's, "History of Penna.," says, 200 Brit- 
ish and 300 Indians; Meginness, in "Otzinachson," says, 100 Brit- 
ish and 200 Indians. [Ed.] 

(2) The number of effective defenders in Fort Freeland is 
given as but 21. [Ed.] 

16 



did their utmost in this trying hour is beyond the semb- 
lance of a doubt, and the resistance they offered was so 
stubborn that the articles of surrender were not accepted 
until all their ammunition was expended and no further 
relief believed possible. 

A scout, by the name of McMahon, who knew the lay 
of the land, was sent in advance of Boone's party. He 
reached the fort at the moment of its capitulation, but, 
not knowing this, jumped across Warrior Run and shook 
hands with some of the men coming out of the fort, who 
told him they were prisoners of war. Without a mo- 
ment's hesitation, McMahon turned, leaped back across 
the Run, and dashed towards Fort Boone. In his escape 
he saw the earth torn up on either side of him by the bul- 
lets fired by the victorious British and Indians, but none 
hit him. 

As soon as the fort capitulated, the Indians took pos- 
session of it, and their squaws became mischievous and 
destructive. They ripped open the feather beds, empty- 
ing the contents in a heap and burning them, while they 
danced about with fiendish glee. They packed the ticks 
with clothes and goods, destroying whatever they could 
not carry away. Having completed the pillage of the 
fort, both Indians and Tories gathered together all the 
provisions they could find, and proceeded tO' the creek, 
where they made preparations for a feast. The sc[uaws 
with their plunder rode away on the side saddles they 
had stolen, in mockery of the white women^ 



(1) The Indians engaged in this campaign were under com- 
mand of Hiokatoo, commonly called Gardow, the second husband 
of Mary Jemison, "the white woman of the Genesee." He was a 
noted Seneca chief and most cruel and terrible as a warrior. 

Hiokatoo was born in one of the tribes of the Six Nations that 
inhabited the banks of the Susquehanna. He was own brother 
to Farmer's Brother, a chief who has been justly celebrated for 
his worth. 

In 1731 he was appointed a runner, to assist in collecting an 
army to go against the Cotawpes, Cherokees and other southern 
Indians. He was present when the northern Indians rushed upon 
the ambuscade and murdered 1,200 of their southern enemies. 

During the French War he was- in every battle that was 
fought on the Susquehanna and Ohio Rivers. At Braddock's 

17 



The savages did not, however, enjoy their feast in 
quiet, for Boone's party soon arrived on the opposite bank 
of the creek, within less than one hundred yards of where 
the enemy was feasting. Not knowing that the fort had 
been surrendered, and the unequal struggle terminated, 
the men from Fort Boone fired on tlie British and In- 
dians. At least thirty of the savages fell dead at the first 
volley^. It was a brief triumph, for the others quickly ral- 
lied and surrounded the Continentals, killing thirteen men, 
among the slain being Captain Boone himself. When 
his party thus found itself caught in an ambuscade, word 
was passed among them for each to save himself, and 
realizing the hopelessness of further resistance, with odds 
nearly ten to one, the fight was given up, while each did 
his best to escape^. 

These brave fellows were closely hunted by the 
savages, who feared them and their possible reprisals, 
and several made narrow escapes. One William Reed 
started to nm, but a hot pursuit was made by the enemy. 
He was a tall, slender fellow, and being a swift rimner 
outstripped his pursuers, until he tripped over a tree root, 
and fell, losing his gun, the barrel of which he found 
years later, with the stock rotted away. When Reed 
after regaining his feet finally reached a place of safety, 
it was found that a bullet had grazed his breast, cutting 
the skin as if a hot iron had branded him. This scar was 
visible until his death. Another shot had pierced his hat. 

defeat he took two white prisoners and burnt them alive in a fire 
of his own kindling, 

Mary Jemison, in writing of her husband's part in the battle 
at Fort Freeland says: "After the fort was surrendered, the 
women and children were sent under an escort to the next fort 
below, and the men and boys taken off by a party of British to 
the general Indian encampment. As soon as the fort had capitu- 
lated and the firing had ceased. Hiokatoo with the help of a few- 
Indians tomahawked every wounded American while earnestly 
begging with uplifted hands for quarters." Truly a terrible rec- 
ord to give her husband. His health was unusually good until 
attacked with consumption four years before his death which oc- 
curred in the month of November, 1811, at the advanced age of 
103 j^ears. 

(1) So some accounts. John Buyers (in Penna. Archives, 
vol. vii, p. 592) says 8 or 10. His letter is quoted below. [Ed.] 

(2) The account in Egle's "Hist, of Penna.," lacks much in 
accuracy, — [Ed,] 

18 



and his shirt was shot in several places, — truly a miracu- 
lous escape ! He was one of the few survivors who lived 
many years after the occurrence, and he could relate many 
incidents of that bloody battle. 

The noise of the battle was heard also by John Mont- 
gomery, living at "Paradise." He mounted two of his 
young sons on horses and sent them to the top of the hill 
to "learn the cause of the firing." On arriving at the 
brow of the hill, overlooking the creek, they discovered 
the fort to be burning and a fight raging in the woods be- 
low them. They returned and reported to their father, 
who hurriedly loaded up his family in a wagon, with such 
provisions and clothing as they could carry, and drove 
across the country to the cabin of William Davis, on 
Limestone Run. Davis after learning what was going 
on, gathered up his family also and joined the Mont- 
gomerys in their flight to Fort Augusta. The Indians and 
Tories burned Montgomery's house and destroyed his 
growing crops. Mr. Montgomery took his family to Pax- 
tang, where they remained until the close of the war, 
when he returned to his old home at the spring. 

Colonel Samuel Hunter wrote to Colonel Matthew 

Smith, July 28th : — 

"This Day, about twelve o'clock, an Express arrived from 
Capt. Boon's mill, informing us that Freeland's Fort was 
surrounded by a party of Indians, and Immediately after 
that another Express came, informing that it was Burned 
and all the Garrison Either killed or taken prisoners; the 
party that went from Boon's see a Number of Indians & 
some Red Coats walking Round the Fort (or where it had 
been) after that there was a fireing heard off towards Chil- 
lisquake, which makes us believe that the Savages is nu- 
merous, and partys is going off from this Town and North- 
umbd to ye Relief of the Garrison at Boon's, as there is a 
number of Women and Children; there was at Freeland's 
Fort fifty Women and Children, and about thirty men and 
God knows what is become of them; by this you may know 
our Distress'd Situation at this present time. General Sul- 
livan would send us no Assistance, and our Neighboring 
Countys has lost the Virtue they were once Possessed of, or 
otherwise we would had some Relief before this time; this 
I write in a Confused manner, as I am Just marching of up 
the West Branch, with the party we have Collected. Rouse 
ye inhabitants there or we are all Ruined here." 

19 



This letter was dispatched by Doctor Francis AHson, 
Jr., Vho on the same day wrote to President Reed, say- 
ing :— 

"Fort Freeland, the most advanced Post on the frontiers 
of the west branch, had on Wednesday last three of the Gar- 
rison killed & scalped (one only shot) within sixty Yards of 
the fort, and two made prisoners; their Number of Indians 
appeared to be upwards of thirty in the open View of the 
Garrison. Relief was sent immediately from Boon's Fort 
and the two Towns, & additional force was left behind to ye 
assistance, notwithstanding which they attacked them this 
morning, & by Intelligence received from persons of credit, 
sent out as spies, they had surrounded the fort — The Forts 
and Barns in Ashes, the mill still standing, & and the In- 
dians appeared very numerous, among whom were some Red 
Coats, supposed to be Regulars — that thirty-four men had 
turned out from Boon's Fort, to relieve Freeland's Fort, of 
whom there is not the least intelligence. The Garrison of 
Freeland F. consisted of thirty-two men, fourteen of whom 
were nine months men. We have just heard ye Capt Boon 
is killed." 

Colonel Hunter the same day says : — 

"Yesterday Morning, Early, there was a party of Indians 
& Regular Troops atacted Fort Freeland; the Fort and 
Houses adjacent set on fire. Capt Boon and his party fired 
briskly on ye Enemy, but was soon surrounded by a large 
party of Indians; there was thirteen killd of our People and 
Capt Boon himself among the Slain. The Regular Officer 
that Commanded was the name of McDonald; he let the 
Women and Children go after haveing them a Considerable 
time in Custoday. The Town of Northumberland was the 
Frontier last night, and I am afraid Sunbury will be this 
night. There was about three Hundred of ye Enimy, & the 
one third of them was white men, as the Prisoners informs 
us, that made their Escape. It must be Butler's party." 

John Buyers, writing to William Maclay the same 
day confirms Colonel Hunter's statements when he 
says : — 

"Freelands fort was attackted by Not less than 300 british 
troops & Indians they acted on the defensive as long as they 
could well but found it impractable to hold out any longer 



(1) Dr. Francis Alison, Jr., was Senior Surgeon of He ,- 
pitals Middle Department during the Revolution. He vv'as sent to 
Sunbury May, 1779, to erect hospitals for the reception of the 
sick and wounded of General Sullivan's army. Just prior to en- 
tering the hospital service. Dr. Alison was commissioned surgeon, 
}-2th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line. He was a son of Rev. Francis 
Alison, D.D., Vice Provost, University of Pennsylvania. He was 
born in Chester County March 28, 1751, and died in Chester 
County, May 11, 1813. 

20 



after the Eneymay had sent in three flags desiring them to 
surrender the Last Mentioning if they did not they would 
put them to the sword every one, the officer Who com- 
manded the garison Capitulated on these terms, viz., that the 
men should be prisoners of warr, the women & Children were 
to down to the toune Nmd & Sunbury unmolested, the whole 
killed in the fort was four men, Capt. boon who went out for 
their Relief fell in with the Enemy Capt. Kompeton who ob- 
served the first Indian on guard shot him dead on the Spot 
then a party ralyed out of the mill and defated bon's Com- 
pany, killed boon, Capt. doharty, Capt. hamilton & all the 
Rest or took of the party only 13 escaped Northud is now 
the frunteer. Wee do not find that there was more than 
eight or ten of the Enemy killed." 

Another letter written the same day by Francis Ali- 
son, Jr., to Colonel Joshua Elder, Lt.of Lancaster Coun- 
ty, says : — 

"Sr, Since mine of the 28th we have received particular 
Instructions from Ft. Freeland, by women who had been in 
the Fort — They say the garrison Surrendered after making 
a noble but short resistance, & and after being thrice sum- 
moned; they Capitulated in form the Copy of it has not yet 
come to hand. Of the Garrison four were killed, & thir- 
teen Scalpes were brought into the fort in a Pocket Handker- 
chief amongst whome were Capt. Boone & Dougherty's sup- 
posed to belong to a party from Boones Fort wch attacked 
the British, Indians &c., and even got in among the people 
who were prisoners with them, but were obliged to fly on 
acct of superiority of numbers, 13 or 14 of ye party have 
come in; they and the women of F. F. estimate the number 
of the Enemy at between 3 & 4 hundred, one third of whom 
are Regular Troops. Boones F., is evacuated & Northum- 
berland Town is already the Frontier — Hurry if possible all 
the assistance possible with utmost haste, or else the Conse- 
quences on our side will be dreadful." 

Willliam Maclay writes to Council from Paxton, 
July 30th, 1779. "The worst that we can fear for North- 
umberland County is like to happen." He then describes 
the attack, and concludes his letter : — 

"The Situation of Northumberland County, beyond de- 
scription distressing, not a single Inhabitant north of North- 
umberland Town — These facts ascertained by Letters from 
Col. Hunter, Doctr. Alison and others by espress this mo- 
ment arrived No Expectation of Relief from Gen. Sullivan. 
I need not ask you what is to be done. Help Help; or the 
Towns of Sunburj' and Northumberland must fall; our whole 
Frontier laid open, and the Communication with Gen. Sul- 
livan's army is cut ofif." 

Major General Sullivan was promptly advised of the 
fate of the garrison at Fort Freeland, for on July 30th he 

21 



wrote to Colonel Hunter from his headquarters at Wy- 
oming : — 

"I rece'd this Day the Disagreeable inteligence of the loss 
of Fort Freeland, your situation in Consequence must be un- 
happy, I feel for you and could wish to assist you, but the 
good of the service will not admit of it — Nothing can so 
Effectually draw the indians out of your Country, as carry- 
ing the War into theirs. Tomorrow morning I shall march 
with the Whole Army for Tioga." 

Truly not much consolation for Colonel Hunter and 
the distressed and suffering settlers. Moreover Colonel 
Matthew Smith did not place much faith in General Sul- 
livan. In a letter dated July 30, he says he knew nothing 
would be done ; — "indeed the General seems to have had 
it in View from his first Arrival at Wyoming to have the 
County Reduced to what it now is." 

William Maclay, in a second letter written to Council 

on July 30th, says : — 

"The Distress of the Flying Inhabitants great beyond De- 
scription. The Design of the Enemy supposed to be the 
Possession of the Towns of Sunbury and Northumberland, 
and of the Stores to be found there — and of Course cutting 
the Communication with Gen. Sullivan's army. It is even 
said That another Body of the Enemy are following Mc- 
Donald." 

In a third letter to Council, all written the same day, 
he inclosed letters from Colonel Hunter and others, and 
adds : — 

"I will go up tomorrow to Carlisle and endeavour to pre- 
vail on the artificers who are embodied at that place to march 
immediately to Sunbury. It is likely I may be refused. Sev- 
eral Volunteers have promised to march for Sunbury." 

When you rememter that William Maclay was one 
of the really strong characters of that day, and one of the 
first United States Senators from Pennsylvania, these 
letters of his clearly show that the situation in Northum- 
berland County was most serious, and that the attack on 
Fort Freeland was a definitely planned manaeuvre of the 
British army, with a definite object, and not merely a 
casual Indian incursion against defenseless settlers. This 
attack, with its consequent heavy toll of life and prison- 
ers, and its importance at that critical period of the Revo- 
lution, should therefore have a more conspicuous place 

22 



than has been given it in the history of our Common- 
wealth during those early days. 

Colonel Smith wrote to President Reed, from Pax- 
tang, July 31st, I779-'— 

"For my Part, I think the Distresses of Northumberland 
County People Equal, if not Superior to anything that has 
happend to any Part of the Continent Since the Commence- 
ment of the Present War." 

He referred to letters from many persons whose word 

could be relied upon, then added : — 

"The Accts this Moment is, the Town of Northumberland 
is Evacuated; if so, then Sunbury will soon follow the Ex- 
ample, and the Same frontier will be where it was twenty 
years Past." 

He then wrote of a meeting called at Paxtang, where 
committees were appointed to relieve this distress and re- 
cruit volunteers ; told of prominent men and officers inter- 
ested in the meetings, and added : — 

"No inconsiderable Number attendd, and Proposd a Scheme 
for Volontiers to turn out Iinmediately for the Relief of the 
Distressd People. We have fixed Sunday Morning, Eight 
O'clock, to march, when, I Doubt not, at least fifty Men 
will Go that way." 

Colonel Smith commanded the relief expedition which 
arrived at Sunbury August 3rd. In reporting this move- 
ment, he says : — 

"I have arrivd at Sunbury, with Sixty Paxtang Boys, the 
neighboring Townships turns out a Number of Volantiers, 
Cumberland County will give a Considerable Assistance, to- 
morrow at 12 o'clock is fixt for the time of March, Provisions 
is Scarce, But we intend to follow the Savages, we hope to 
Come at them, as they Number of Cattle, is Great, they have 
taken, from the Coutrey & must make a Slow Progress on 
their Return home — I hope to See them on their Return & 
Doubt not if we Do, to Give a Good Acct. I inclose a Copy 
of the Capitulation at Fort Freeland, the Captn McDonald 
of the Rangers, is formerly a Sergeant in Col. Montgomery's 
Regt of Highlanders, his humanity has Appeard in this one 
Instance — Perhaps the first in this war, fifty two Women & 
Children Came safe to this place, being the Number Taken 
— four old Men also was Admitted to Come Back, the Enemy 
Supposd them not fit to March to Niagara, inclosd is a list 
of the Number of Capt Boon's party killd, also the names of 
the Persons belonging to the Garrison, this Acct I Believe 
is the Fact as the party out yesterday have Buryd the Dead, 
Gave me the List, the Distress of the people here is Great — 
you may have some Conception, but Scarcely Can be told — 

23 



this town (Sunbury) now Composes Northumberland County, 
the Enemy have Burnt, Everywhere they have Been, houses, 
Barnes, Rice & Wheat, in the fields, stocks of hay, &c; is 
all Consumd — Such Devastation I have not yet Seen." 

This is the testimony of a seasoned soldier, one who 
had suffered extremities in the French and Indian war, 
who had been held for a time a prisoner of war, and who 
later became a hero oi the Revolution. His list of the 
casualties is as follows : — 

"Those kill'd at Freeland's Fort in Capt. Boon's party. 
Capt. Boon, Capt. Saml Dougherty, Jeremiah McGlahg- 
len, Natte Smith, John Jones, Edwd Costikan, Ezra 
Green, Samuel Neel, Matt'w McClintock, Hugh McGill, 
Andw Woods, 

a total of eleven. 

Killd in the fort, 

Jas Watt, John McClintock, Wm McClung, James Miles, 
and Henry Gilfillen." 

The terms of the surrender of Fort Freeland were as 

follows : — 

"Articles of Capitulation Entd into Between Capt 
John McDaniel On his Majesties part & John Little on 
that of the Congress. 

Article ist. The Men in Garrison to March out & 

Ground their Arms in the Green, in front of the fort 

which is to be taken in Possession of Immediately by his 

Majesty's Troops. . , ^ 

■^ -^ ^ Agreed too. 

Mly. All Men Bearing Arms are to Surrender them- 
selves Prisoners of War & to be Sent to Niagara. 

Agd too. 

3d. The Women and Children not to be Stript of 
their Cloathing nor Molested by the Indians and to be at 
Liberty tO' Move Down the Country where they please. 

Agd too. 

JOHN McDonald. Capt. of Rangers. 
JOHN LITTLE."^ 

President Reed replied to the urgent appeals of 
Colonel Hunter, Colonel Smith, John Weitzel and others. 
Resolutions were promptly passed by Council, and those 

(1) Pennsylvania Archives vol. VII, p. 611. 

24 



in high authority realized for the first time that it was a 
serious blunder, as President Reed writes : — 

" — to find our best Measures defeated partly by the Neg- 
lect and Misconduct of our own Ofificers & partly by the 
very improper Conduct of some Persons of Weight & Influ- 
ence who from Party views did all in their Power to distract 
and censure the People we were constrained to trust the 
Defence of the Frontiers to Providence and the small exer- 
tions of the People, immediately interested." 

He then admonished the officers to do all in their pow- 
er to "extinguish all disputes, &c." and promised: — 

"If I could flatter myself this happy Spirit would prevail 
I should have Pleasure in visiting the County & examining 
the State of the Militia — This I shall endeavour to do this 
Fall if other Publick Business will admit." 

The full effect of the loss at Fort Freeland was not 
known for some time. A week after the attack Col. 
Hunter advised President Reed that "the Enemy has 
Plundered and burned the Country within ten or twelve 
miles, there is a number of familys in Distress, having 
nothing left them tO' subsist upon." 

Captain John Lee,^ the third Captain in a most patri- 
otic and distinguished early family of Pennsylvania, 
owned considerable property within a short distance of 
Freeland's Mills. During the time of the bloody incur- 
sions, John Lee was firm, and his resolution was a great 
comfort to the panic-stricken settlers. After the destruc- 
tion of the fort, and its capitulation, the savage victors 
committed indiscriminate plunder and murder. They im- 
mediately proceeded to the house of Captain Lee, know- 
ing that he possessed a well-filled money chest. At first 
they rushed by members of the frightened family, without 
injuring anyone, into the apartment where the chest lay. 
Captain Lee just at this time was returning from the 
fields. He was shot and killed. TwO' of his sons, young 
men, were slaughtered at the threshold of the home. His 
wife, with a suckling babe in her arms, and four other 
children, were led away captive. TwO' miles from the 
house, the baby's brains were dashed out against a tree; 
the tears and weeping of the mother caused the savages 
to end her sufferings with the barbarous tomahawk. 

(1) See Judge Henry's letter to Secretary of War in the 
matter of Washington Lee's application for army appointment. 
Egle, N. & Q. 1896. pp. 110-111. 

25 



The survivors of this unfortunate family, two girls 
and two boys, none of them above twelve years of age, 
were held in Indiana in bondage until 1784-85. When 
Robert Lee learned the whereabouts of his brother Thom- 
as, he made arrangements to have him brought to Tioga 
Point, where he was turned over to his friends. Such was 
his love of Indian life, after so many years of captivity, 
that they were obliged to tie him, to prevent his escape, 
when placing him on board a canoe. When near Wilkes- 
Barre he was untied, but as soon as the canoe touched 
shore he jumped out and ran away. It was several hours 
before he was again caught. Upon finally arriving at 
Northumberland, he evinced all the sullenness of a cap- 
tive, and Indian boys and girls had to be brought to play 
with him before he showed any disposition to be satisfied 
with his new home. At last he began to ask qusetions, 
and inquire for his relatives, and by degrees again became 
civilized. Both Thomas and Robert afterwards became 
officers in the U. S. Army. Rebecca Lee and her sister 
were also restored to their relatives, through the efforts 
of their uncle, Capt. Andrew^ Lee, a distinguished Revolu- 
tionary hero. 

True to his promise, William Maclay arrived at Sun- 
bury, and on August 5th wrote to Council : — "It is with 
sincere pleasure That I inform you That the Martial 
Spirit is not yet extinct on the Frontiers of Pennsyl- 
vania." He stated that the object of the attack was the 
magazine at Fort Augusta, the cutting off of communica- 
tion with General Sullivan, — that it awakened the inhabi- 
tants ; that there were five hundred volunteers at Fort 
Augusta as he wrote. He added : — 

" 'Tis said McDonald, in some instances, restrained the im- 
petuosity of the Savages with respect to the Prisoners. None, 
however, of Boon's Men were made Prisoners. The Enemy 
were amazingly fond of Plunder; everything, however, which 
they could not take away was destroyed." 

In further raids the victorious Indians and Tories pil- 
laged and plundered the inhabitants of Milton, and burned 
Huling's Mill and Tavern on Limestone Run. But the 
troops under Colonel Matthew Smith arrived in the for- 
saken county at last, and no further trouble was exper- 
ienced. This old warrior became a prominent resident of 

26 



the county, and its most disting-uished citizen. He was 
for a short period the Vice President of the Common- 
wealth, also a member of the Supreme Executive Coun- 
cil. He spent the last fifteen years of his life as a resi- 
dent of Milton. The following obituary appeared in 
Kennedy's Gazette, July 30th, 1794: 

"Died, the 22nd inst., about sunset, at Milton, Colonel 
Matthew Smith, aged fifty-four years, being one of the first 
patriots for liberty; went to Canada in the year 1755 and 
suffered extremities. He was once prothonotary of Northum- 
berland County. Was interred 23rd instant, attended by a 
number of his friends and acquaintances, together with the 
volunteer company of light infantry from Milton, conducted 
by Major Pratt and commanded by Captain James Boyd, who 
after marching about six miles to Warrior Run burying 
grounds and shedding a tear over the old patriot's grave, de- 
posited his remains with three well directed volleys and re- 
turned home in good order." 

Linn's, "Annals of Buffalo Valley," adds that "his 
body was carried by these soldiers from Milton to War- 
rior Run." 

Notwithstanding the authority of the foregoing quo- 
tations, and others equally as reliable, to^ be found in the 
Colonial Records and Penna. Archives, interesting cor- 
roboration of this history of the Fort is afforded by 
the following interesting letter written by Mrs. Mary 
V. Derrickson, at Delaware Run, Dec. 7th, 1855. She 
was born in Fort Freeland and her recollection of those 
stirring events was remarkably clear and faithful. 

Delaware Run, Dec. 17th, 1855. 
Sir, 

In compliance with your request I will give, (so far as my 
memory will serve) all the account of the early settlers, and 
occupants of Fort Freeland. The fort was situated on the 
Warrior-run Creek about 4i^ miles above where it empties 
into the Susquehanna River. 

In the year 1772, Jacob Freeland, Samuel Gould, Peter Vin- 
cent, John Vincent and his son Cornelius Vincent and Tim- 
othy Williams with their respective families cut their way 
through, and settled within some two miles of where the fort 
was afterwards built — they were from Essex County, N. J. 
Jacob Freeland brought the irons for a Grist Mill, and in the 
years 'IZ & '4 he built one on the Warrior run. 

There were several more families moved up from the same 
place, and they lived on friendly terms with the Indians, un- 
til '11, when they began to be troublesome and to remove 
their own families in the summer of '78, they had to leave 
the country and when they returned in the fall they picketed 

27 



around a large two story log house (which had been built by 
Jacob Freeland for his family), inclosing half an acre of 
ground, the timbers were set close and were about 12 feet 
high, the gate was fastened with bars inside. Into this fort 
or house the families of Jacob Freeland, Sen., Jacob Freeland. 
Jr., John Little, Michael Freeland, John Vincent, Peter Vin- 
cent, George Pack, Cornelius Vincent, Moses Kirk, James 
Durham, Samuel Gould, Isaac Vincent and Daniel Vincent, 
all gathered and lived that winter. In November, Geo. Pack, 
son of George Pack was born, and on the 10th of February, 
1779, I was born, my father was Cornelius Vincent, and on 
the 20th of May, George, son of Isaac Vincent was born. 

In the spring of '79, the men planted corn, but were occa- 
sionally surprised by the Indians, but nothing serious oc- 
curred untill the 21st day of July, as some of them were at 
work in a cornfield back of the fort, they were attacked by 
a party of Indians about 9 o'clock A. M., and Isaac Vincent, 
Elias Freeland and Jacob Freeland, Jr., were killed, and Ben- 
jamin Vincent and Michael Freeland were taken prisoners. 
Daniel Vincent was chased by them, but he out ran them, 
and escaped by leaping a very high log fence. When the In- 
dians surprised them, Benjamin Vincent (then 10 years of 
age) hid himself in a furrow, but he thought he would be 
more secure by climbing a tree as there was a woods near 
but they saw him and took him prisoner, he was ignorant of 
the fate of the others, until about 2 o'clock P. M., when an 
Indian thrust a bloody scalp in his face, and he knew it was 
his (and my) brother Isaac's hair. 

Nothing again occurred until the morning of the 29th, about 
daybreak, as Jacob Freeland, Sen., was agoing out of the 
gate, he was shot and fell inside of the gate. The fort was 
surrounded by about 300 British and Indians, commanded 
by Capt'n McDonnald; there were but 21 men in the fort, 
and but little ammunition; Mary Kirk and Phebe Vincent 
commenced immediately and run all their spoons and plates 
into bullets; about 9 o'clock there was a flag of truce raised, 
and John Little and John Vincent went out to capitulate, 
but could not agree. They had half an hour given them to 
consult with those inside, at length they agreed, that all who 
were able to bear arms should go as prisoners, and the old 
men and women and children set free, and the fort given up 
to plunder, they all left the fort by 12 o'clock P. M. Not one 
of them having eaten a bite that day, and not a child was 
heard to cry or ask for bread that day. They reached North- 
umberland. 18 miles distance that night, and there drew their 
rations, the first they had to eat that day. 

When Mrs. Kirk heard the terms on which they were set 
free she put female clothes on her son William, a lad of 16, 
and he escaped with the women. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Vincent was a cripple, she could not walk. 
Her husband John Vincent went to Capt'n McDonnald and 
told him of her situation, and said if he had the horse, that 
the Indians had taken from his son Peter the week before 
that she could ride, and about day light the next morning 
the horse, came to them, he had carried his wife to the lower 
end of the meadow where they lay and saw the fort burned, 

28 



and it rained so hard that night that she lay mid side in water, 
when the horse came he striped the bark off a hickory tree 
and plaited a halter, set his wife on and led it to Northum- 
berland where there were wagons pressed, to take them on 
down the country. 

In the fall of 78 as a company of the settlers were leav- 
ing the country on account of the Indians, they were fired at, 
and Mrs. Durham's infant was killed in her arms, she fell 
with it and they came and tomahawked and scalped her, and 
when the men went to count the dead, she raised up and asked 
for a drink of water. Elias Williams, one of the men, ran to 
the river and brought his hat full of water and gave her a 
drink, they then put her in a canoe and took her to North- 
umberland, where Dr. Plunket dressed her head, she recov- 
ered and lived about 50 years. Her body was afterwards lain 
in Warrior-run burying ground, about a half mile off where 
the fort stood. 

And now, Sir, my task is done if it gives you any infor- 
mation of which you were not in possession I am glad to 
have done it. 

Very respectfully yours, &c., 

MARY V. DERRICKSON.i 

At the time this letter was written, the pickets of a 
portion of the fence which surrounded the fort were still 
standing, showing its actual size and location. 

The inhabitants of Fort Freeland should not have 
been taken by surprise. Job Chilloway had forewarned 
them of the coming invasion, as had another friendly In- 
dian, and also Robert Covenhoven, the spy and scout. 
The latter had been sent by Colonel Hepburn to ascer- 
tain and report the movements of the enemy. He trav- 
elled alone on his dangerous enterprise, and during his 
perilous journey was many times near death or capture. 
When he reached Fort Muncy on his return, he informed 
Colonel Hepburn of the impending danger; and as the 
enemy's forces were too strong tO' resist, the women and 
children in that fort were hastily placed in boats and sent 
down the river to Fort Augusta. Covenhoven notified 
those at Fort Menninger and also at Fort Freeland^ but 
at the latter place the assembled settlers thought the scout 



(1) Included in "Penna. Archives," Voll XII, pp. 364-366. 
Mrs. Derrickson at the time of the mascacre was but five months 
old. Her recollections are therefore recollections of what she 
was told later. [Ed.] 

(2) So Meginness says, but the article in "Frontier Forts" 
notes — "but it is said Fort Freeland did not get notice." [Ed.] 

29 



was magnifying the clanger, and they decided to remain. 
The garrison at Fort Boone also remained behind. 

Ammunition was scarce and difficult to obtain, which 
accounts for the necessity during the battle of having the 
women melt their spoons and pewter plate into bullets. 
Yet with attacks occurring- so frequently, it appears to us, 
at this date, that the g-arrison should have been better pre- 
pared for this final assault. 

The effect of the fall of Fort Freeland was most dis- 
astrous to this region, accompanied as it was by the death 
of Captains Hawkins Boone and Samuel Dougherty and 
their brave comrades, by the desertion oi Fort Boone as 
a post of defense, and the leaving of Fort Augusta un- 
covered and easy of access by the enemy. Colonel Hunter 
held this important base with such a feeble force that it 
would have discouraged a less courageous commander. In 
November the German Battalion was sent tO' him. This 
consisted of one hundred and twenty men. They secured 
the base, and then were dispatched to build Fort Mont- 
gomery. Fort Swartz, above Milton ; and Fort Jenkins, 
near Bloomsburg, each of these fortifications being gar- 
risoned, and ten men stationed, as further safeguard, at 
Bostley's Mills. 

Of the prisoners captured at the assault, but few ever 
again returned to their families, most of them having suc- 
cumbed to the privations of the long weary march to 
Canada, with its indescribable hardships, scarcity of food, 
and cruel treatment. 

James, a brotlier of Captain Samuel Dougherty, who 
was killed with his comrade Captain Hawkins Boone, was 
one of those taken prisoner who survived the march to 
Canada. When peace was declared he returned to Bos- 
ton. He was the only one of seven brothers who died a 
natural death, and each was a herO' of the Revolution. 

Cornelius Vincent, another captive, returned eventual- 
ly to Milton, where he lived, with his wife, until July i6, 
1812, dying at the age of 76. A monument in Warrior 
Run cemetery marks the graves of Cornelius and his 
wife Phoebe Vincent. 

30 



Daniel Vincent, his son, also one of the captives, re- 
turned, and accidentally found his wife again while at- 
tending a sleighing party where she was visiting some 
friends in New Jersey. 

Captain John Lytle, one of the signers of the Articles 
of Capitulation, returned to the scene of the fort, was 
again united with his wife and children, and removed 
them to Northumberland. 

At the time of the destruction of Fort Freeland, Col. 
Hunter's left flank had been contracted from its former 
limits which extended to Lock Haven, to Milton, with 
his right very weak but intact. 

In and about Fort Freeland, as a result of the attack, 
one hundred and eight settlers were killed or led away as 
prisoners of war, not alone by Indians in their savage 
and cruel treachery, but as well by the organized militia 
of Great Britain. This heavy toll, to which should be 
added those killed among the British and their Indian 
allies, numbering possibly as many more, marks this as 
a definite battle of the Revolution, with the magazine 
and army stores at Fort Augiista, and the cutting off of 
the rear of General Sullivan's army, as the purpose of the 
attack, and it deserves to be identified as such. 

Not only was it an event of great importance, but it 
marked the last cruel battle in this part of Pennsylvania, 
although affairs did not materially improve in this depart- 
ment until the close of the Revolution. 

The story of Fort Freeland and its defenders is now 
told ; it will always kindle in our hearts that spark of 
patriotism which has ever since animated the men and 
women of the West Branch Valley. A monument should 
be erected on this sacred spot, which should be as impos- 
ing as those who defended it were patriotic ; and it should 
proclaim to this and future generations that, instead of 
being merely an Indian attack upon defenseless and un- 
prepared settlers, the event it commemorates was a 
well planned and successful battle, in which the British 
and their Indian allies captured and destroyed Fort Free- 
land, July 28, 1779. 

31 



The Lycoming Historical Society 



STATED MEETINGS 
Season 1920-1921 

October 21, IQ^O 

Address: "How Election Ballots Should be 
Marked" (Illustrated) — Hon. Max L. Mitchell. 

Address: "Joseph Henderson McMinn; the Man 
and Historian" — Mr. O. R. Howard Thomson. 

Address : "Joseph Henderson McMinn, The Col- 
lector" (Illustrated)— Mr. Boyd P. Rothrock. 

November 18, ip2o 

Address: The Williamsport Academy" — Bruce A. 
Hunt. 

Address : "Some Historic Trees of the West Branch 
Valley" — Col. Henry W. Shoemaker. 

January 20, ip2i. 

Address : "Some Newer Now and Thens" — Mr. 
Thomas Wood. 

Address : "A Strong- Man of the Revolution, John 
Brady, of Muncy" — Mr. Lewis E. Theiss. 

Address : "Samuel Wallis and His Mansion at 
Muncy Farms" (Illustrated) — Dr. T. Kenneth 
Wood. 

February ly, ip2i 

Address: "Redemptioners of Lycoming County" — 
Mr. Thomas W. Lloyd. 

Address : "The Psychology of Archives" — Dr. 
Elliott C. Armstrong, D.D. 

32 



STATED MEETINGS 
Season 1921-1922 

October 20, 1921 

Address: "New Light on Ancient Tales" — Mrs. 
Jessica P. Krom. 

Address: "Pioneers of Pine Creek" — Mrs. Mary 
R. Wolcott. 

Address: "Tales of Bridle Path, Highway and 
Packet" — Mrs. Julia R. Harris. 

November ly, ig2i 

Address : "Settlements of German Pietists in Penn- 
sylvania" — Rev. J. A. Weishaar. 

January ig, 1922 

Address : "Reminiscences of the Lycoming County 
Bar"— Mr. John G. Reading. 

Address: "Some Early Forges of Lycoming 
County" — Mr. W. W. Champion. 

February 16, ip22 

Address: "Pennsylvania Manuscripts and Printed 
Matter in the Collections of the J. V. Brown Librarj'- 
and Historical Society" — Mr. O. R. Howard 
Thomson. 



33 



Officers 

1921-1922 

President C. LaRue Mnnson 

First Vice President Hon. Max L. Mitchell 

Second Vice President Charles T. Logue 

Third Vice President Mrs. Margaret Geddes Lundy 

Fourth Vice President. .Rev. Elliott C. Armstrong, D.D. 

General Secretary Thomas W. Lloyd 

Treasurer Harry Clay Bubb 

Honorary Recording Secretary Hannah Webster 

Honorary Corresponding Secretary. . .Charles H. Eldon 
Editor of Publications O. R. Howard Thomson 

Trustees for two years : Dr. T. Kenneth Wood, Mrs. 
Jessica P. Krom. 

Trustees for one year : Hyman A. Slate, J. Roman 
Way. 

1922-1923 

President C. LaRue Munson 

First Vice President Hon. Max L. Mitchell 

Second Vice President .... Mrs. Margaret Geddes Lundy 

Third Vice President Dr. T. Kenneth Wood 

Fourth Vice President James B. Krause 

General Secretary Thomas W. Lloyd 

Treasurer Harry Clay Bubb 

Honorary Recording Secretary H. M. Collins 

Honorary Corresponding Secretary . . . Hannah Webster 
Editor of Publications O. R. Howard Thomson 

Trustees for two years : Hyman A. Slate, Mrs. Jes- 
sica P. Krom. 

Trustees for one year : Rev. J. A. Weishaar, William 
P. Beeber. 

34 



SPECIAL COMMITTEES 



Memorial Tree Committee 

Appointed November i8, 1920, to secure records of 
all men and women of Lycoming County who while serv- 
ing in the armed forces of the United States of America, 
or her Allies, or in one of the recognized Welfare Organi- 
zations, lost their lives in the World War and to com- 
memorate their memory by the planting on the two sides 
of some public road in the County of an avenue of Pine 
Trees : 

O. R. Howard Thomson, Chairman 

Harry Clay Bubb. 

Maj. William P. Clarke. 

Thomas W. Lloyd. 

Charles T. Logue. 

Mrs. Margaret Geddes Lundy. 

Dr. T. Kenneth Wood. 

S. Van Brown. 

The records of 131 men and women (with official con- 
firmations for all save one man who lost his life with the 
Italian Army) are on file; pine trees, from the State 
nurseries have been promised by Chief Forester Pinchot ; 
a contribution of $100 towards the expenses of the work 
was received from Women's Food Conservation Com- 
mittee of Lycoming County ; and arrangements for rais- 
ing the additional amount needed practically completed. 

The actual planting of the trees is, however, held up 
owing to the receipt of an official notice from the State 
Highway Department advising the committee that the 
department will not prevent such multilation of the trees 
as may be deemed necessary in the interest of the wires 
of the telephone and telegraph companies strung along 
the highway. 

35 



INDIAN TRAIL COMMITTEE 

Appointed February 17, 1921, to prepare and print a 
map and report of the Indian trails of the West Branch 
Valley. 

Katharine W. Bennet, Chairman. 

Mrs. Katharine L. Beeber. 

William P. Beeber. 

Mary E. Crocker. 

Hon. Emerson Collins. 

Hon. Frederic A. Godcharles. 

Mrs, Aimee S. Hastings. 

Glenn B. Hastings. 

Mrs. Sylvia B. Hays. 

Bruce Hunt. 

H. P. Lincoln. 

Thomas W. Lloyd. 

Mrs. Margaret Geddes Lundy. 

Hon. Max L. Mitchell. 

Mrs. Agnes W. Rhoads. 

Joseph G. Rhoads. 

Mrs. Mabel Ord Shoemaker. 

Col. Henry W. Shoemaker. 

O. R. Howard Thomson. 

Margaret Wilson. 

Mrs. Clara Wood. 

Dr. T. Kenneth Wood. 



36 



Lycoming Historical Society 

PROCEEDINGS AND PAPERS 

No. 3 

Joseph Henderson McMinn 



Corrigenda and Addenda 



Page 14: Note 3. 

Change: "Lycoming Chapter, D. A. R.," to read, 
"Fort Antes Chapter, D. A. R." 

Add: The Fort Antes Chaper, D. A. R., under the 
miltant leadership of its Regent, Mrs. J. P. Krom, has 
since Mr. McMinn dehvered his speech redeemed the Pine 
Creek Burying Grounds and the graves of fourteen of the 
soldiers of the Revolution therein buried have been suit- 
ably marked. 

The Fort Antes Chapter, D. A. R., has also marked in 
the Antes Burying Ground the graves of Col. Antes, of 
his son, and of the six soldiers, killed by Indians, first to 
be there buried. Upon the dissolution of the Antes Me- 
morial Association, that association turned over to the 
Fort Antes Chapter, D. A. R., a small fund remaining in 
its treasury, the turn over being conditional upon the 
Chapter agreeing to keep the graveyard in order. Both 
the fund and trust were accepted by the Chapter. The 
graveyard is now fenced in. In 19 17 the Pennsylvania 
Historical Commission and the Fort Antes Chapter, D. 
A. R., erected a boulder, with tablet commemorating the 
Fort. The bolder is about one-half mile northeast of the 
actual site, 

(Information received from Mrs. Jessica P. Krom. 
Regent, Fort Antes Chapter, D. A. R.) 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1 




DOQlHlHai'^fi 



